Locomotive stoker distributor head



Jan. 23, 1951 s. G. JONES LOCOMOTIVE STOKER DISTRIBUTORHEAD 2 Sheets-Shea?I 1 Filed June 11, 1947 1 i I l l kw e? Trae/wens.

Jan. 23, 1951 s. G. JONES 2,539,306

LOCOMOTIVE STOKER DISTRIBUTOR HEAD Filed June 11, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q INEN@ 0R.

V. BY @mi @Mu/j V FGI/Mam Arboiler.

Patented Jan. 23V, 1951 AU NITE D S TATE S "BfgflE'N'T O F yFICE LOCQMOTIVELLSTOKER DISTRIBUTGR HEAD Samuel (3. Jones, Princess 'Anne County, Wa.

Application .lime 11, 1947,:Se1'ial N0.'7524',047

:6-Claims. 1 l.'lhis 'invention relates .to locomotive ."stokers, :and more particuarly tto the distributor 1 heads /bywhichcoal'that isconveyed rtoil-.he firing opening. in a rebox itbackwall-isy .distributed v over .the igrate.

LIt.. is among: therobjects ofzthis. invention to .prozvidea stker `distributor .head which kdistributes coalproperlyover :the "fire rbed, which includes :1an .apron forfprot'e'cting the :rest fof theY headv from Aburnng faway, andzin'whichfthe -protective-.apron itself has ia long 'life Aand "cannot become 1ac- "cidentallyfr disconnected. from the :rest of thefdistributorhead.

`In accor'dance with -.this invention, the fdisi'tribut'ofrllead,l whichis adapted to extend through "the '.ring opening :Einia locomotive, :includes 'a hollow --jet rmember rconnected -to :steam in the This 4member hhas fa .front fwall provided v.with'outlets fior -jets of `xsteam, iwhi-e its upper uwall is inclined r-downward and lrearward 'from the top of the front wall to' formaloorfup which :a streamrof coal=cansbe "led from .theltender. A

a .central .portion of ...the fapron which engages .and ,protects .the .frontof the table. The apron .has .ledges .at -its `.ends .located .below -the .table .steam outlets. vEachledge yis provided with 4a rounded integral `nose` extending .along .its `iront and side toprotect.thenedges.from being burned.

'The rear end of the aprons bottom wall beneath the ledges is provided with .transverselyrounded ribs extending downward to protect therearedge lof -the apron "from burning and .to deflect yflames forward away .'from thatedge. .Thefrontportion 'of ,the table is provided withone Yor more rearwardly ,and downwardly inclined openings yinto which slide Yinclined .lugs connected tothe apron,

"Therefore, `to disconnect the apron from the table,'the apron mustbe moved not only-upward but also forward. The bottom of the tabeppreferably is provided with an air chamberopen at E"fronirarr'd' backso that airfrom outside the re- "tbox will'be drawnthrough :the chamber into ythe :apron'f or coolingthe` latter.

'illustrated 'in fthe "accompanying 'drawings lin which 'rFig "1 lis ^aplan "view of vkmy 4distributf-) r IIe-1055) .head; Fig. Y2 :is .a front view thereof; Fig. 3 fis -sa front View of the jet member alone; Figfrisa plan -view-of the -apron'.alone; Fig. ,5 `is sa arear*- `view ofthe apron; Figs. 6 .and 7-are fverticalzsections taken on l,the lines 4V-I--VIand VII-.VTII, respectively, ofFig. v1gandFigxSis'avfragmentary vertical Vsection through the 'distributor :head taken on the vline VIII-VIII `of Fig. 1, showing the apron/about to'be connected to theijetmem- Iber.

4Referring to 'the-drawings, .coalfrom /arlocomo vtive tender is fed in'thefusualway `by means'iof conveyor screws to the lower' end-'"o'fan-upwardly and forwardly inclined riserconduit, onlya-'sm'all ,portion of whose floor lHisfshownin 'Fig-6. The

upper end of the riser conduitis rigidly mounted relative to the fbaclcwall 2-'oi "the locomotive tre- .boX in the usual manner, and is-enlargedtosubstantially the'width'of ,the ring openingiinthe backwall. 'The coal is carried up throughfthe Vriser lconduit 4by -a :screw (not show-n) --and"fed ina stream to anLimprovedtdistributorhead-Iby which the ycoal is Vdistributed -over -thefre fbed. The principal parts o'f the-distributor-headare a ho1`ow`jet member "3, ahollow ytable-*Afl integral therewith, and a separate :protective Aapron 5.

',As shown in Fig. 6,'the rear end offthe'hollow jet member-3 isseated ina-'notch formedfat'the `junction "of the upper vendsof @the Ariser -`oor vI anda flat extension r'l-exteridine: forward to .the virebox 'backwall The .jet member .iis iheld in place/*by means of bolts -Cnot shown) nthat-are threaded in the sidewalls of the riser-'conduit vand that project-into sockets'8 inthe -endsof the jet membern a well-known-manner. The topwallfg ofthe jetz'member' is'inclined from the riser oor upward --and forward so vth-atfcoal from theconduit Will beLpushed-up across :this inclined top Wall. The front .ofv this V`wall. isV connec-tedby'an upright Wall Vll tto the bottom Wall l2 which'curves upwardatthe ends-'of the iet member and extendsabove the top wall. The inside of the jet member is divided byparallel vertical partitions `t3 (Fig. 1) ;into -a plurality :of separate chambers'{4,preferablyifour innumber, from the bottom of each of whicha threaded nipple .It extends downsthrough-.an Aoversize `-hole vthrough the dat-.extension 1^ of 4the. riserA conduit for connection toasteam pipe .connectedto the locomotive boiler. uEach pipe maybe controlled in conventional mannerbva separate valveito .regulate the steam delivered -.to the Vdifferent chambers. Jets of steam issue from chambers I4 through upper and lower rows .of orifices l'l y .'lformed in front Wall Il of the vjet member.

yThe vtable 4 extends forward from `front-wall II below orices I1 and likewise is provided interiorly with chambers 2 I, preferably two of them separated by a central vertical partition 22. The two chambers open at their outer rear corners into the two end chambers I4 in the jet member, whereby the table is filled with high pressure steam from inside of the jet member. The front corners of the table at its opposite ends are attened and lie in vertical planes diagonal to the front and sides of the table and that converge in front of the center of the table at approximately a 90 angle. These diagonal corner walls are provided with steam jet orices 23 and 24 directed toward the back corners of the rebox. As shown in Fig. 6, the bottom wall 26 oi the table is an integral continuation of the lower wall I2 of the jet member and is spaced from the bottom of the iiring opening by means of a pin 21 projecting from a socket in the bottom of the table and resting on the lower wall of the ring opening.

The hollow table e, which projects into the rebox, is protected from the flames under it by apron which has a heavy central bar-like body 3I that engages the front wall of the table and that is substantially the same thickness as the table. At the opposite ends of this central body there are horizontal ledges 32 located at a lower level and extending back around the ends of the table beneath the steam outlets 23 and 2e. therein. The rear ends of those ledges rest on supports 33 integral with the jet member. The apron has a bottom wall 34 that extends downward from the front portions of body 3| and ledges 32 and curves inward under the ledges and table. The bottom wall shields the exposed bottom of the table from the flames below it, while the central body 3| protects the front of the table from burning.

To detachably connect the apron to the table, the front of the table is provided in its lower edge with a pair of laterally spaced recesses 35 extending up into it, as shown in Figs. 3 and 8. Eachv recess has a rearwardly and downwardly inclined bottom wall extending only about half wayacross it. These bottom walls are formed by bosses 37 integral with the table and projecting forward from it to provide steps 38 on which the central body of the apron may rest. As shown in Figs. 5 and 8, the inside of the apron is provided with a pair of laterally spaced vertical ribs 3Q which project into the table recesses. Each rib has an inclined lug 4G integral therewith overlying the inclined bottom wall of the recess to support the apron from the table. The apron is connected to the table by rst positioning the low-er ends of the lugs in front of the upper ends of the table recesses, as shown in Fig. 8, and then sliding the lugs down the inclined bottom walls of the recesses, whereby the central body 3I of the apron `moves down and back against the front of the table, and the ledges 32 move back around the ends of the table and rest on supports 33. It will be seen that in order to remove the apron from the jet member, the apron must be moved forward as well as upward. This eliminates any danger of a fireman accidentally catching a shovel or poker on the apron and unhooking it from the jet member. Also, no separate fastening members, having obvious disadvantages, are required for locking the apron and jet member together.

The outer edges of apron ledges 32 are pro tected from burning by transversely curved ribs or noses 45 integral therewith and extending 4 I around them from their rear ends to the body 3! of the apron. This not only increases the mass of metal at these locations, but also eliminates the sharp upper edges that ames might burn, Beneath the ledges, the outer rear edge of the curved bottom wall 34 of the apron likewise is protected by integral noses or ribs 126 that start at the ledges and extend downward and part way across the bottom of the apron.

Further protection is given the table by providing the inside of the apron with heat baffles lil. These extend from vertical ribs 3S outward under the ledges 32, and are inclined rearward and downward from the upper wall of the apron as shown in Fig. 7.

The apron is cooled, and therefore its life is increased, by air directed into it from an air chamber directly below the table. This chamber is formed between the bottom wall 23 of the table and a horizontal wall 50 below it integrally joined at its front and ends to the table. The back of the chamber is open, while its front is provide-:l with three slots, the center one 5I being located behind the center of the apron, and the two end openings 52 directing air into the spaces above bafiies 4l'. The draft through the irebox will draw cool air in through the ring opening beneath the bottom wall of the distributor head, and through the chamber below the table. The air issuing from the chamber slots 5I and 52 will enter the upper portion of the apron from which it then will flow downward and rearward. As the air stream leaves the back of the apron it will sweep down around the back of the lower wall and then up into the rebox. Furthermore, in case the apron does burn away after a considerable period of time, due to poor firing by the fireman, the air chamber below the table will in itself protect the table to a considerable extent from the heat below it.

Most of the coal that falls over front wall Ii will be blown forward across the grate by the jets of steam issuing from orifices I'I; some of this coal being caught in mid-air by the steam, and the rest being swept forward 01T the table. Some coal escapes the steam from orifices I'I, and rolls off the ends of the table and of the jet member into the jets of steam issuing from orifices 23 and 24. The ends of the table are provided with hoods 55 that project a short distance from above the table orifices so that the coal cannot pile up between the jets. The diagonal front corners of the table, together with the parallel ends of the table behind them, help in directing the coal to these jets at points from which it will be swept into the rear corners of the rebox. The apron ledges 32 serve as tables below the table jets.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, I have explained the principle and construction of my invention and have illustrated and described what I now consider to represent its best embodiment. However, I desire to have it understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specically illustrated and de scribed.

I claim:

1. A locomotive Stoker distributor head adapted to extend through the ring opening of a rebox, comprising a hollow jet member adapted to be connected to a steam supply, said member having a front wall provided with outlets for steam jets and having an upper wall inclined downward and rearward from the top of the front wall to form a rloor up which a stream of coal can be fed, a hollow table extending forward from said front wall below said outlets and provided interiorly with chambers throughout substantially the full length of the table adapted to be connected to a steam supply, said chambers having a front wall forming the front wall of the table and connecting the opposite ends of the table, the opposite ends of the table having laterally directed outlets for steam jets, and a protective apron detachably connected to the table and having a wall extending downward and rearward `under it from a central portion engaging the front wall of the table, said apron having ledges at its ends below said table outlets.

2. A locomotive stoker distributor head adapted to extend through the ring opening 'of a firebox, comprising a jet member provided centrally with a pair of laterally spaced chambers adapted to be connecte-d to a steam supply, said member having a front wall provided with outlets from said chambers for steam jets and having an upper wall inclined downward and rearward from the top of the front wall to form a floor up which a stream of coal can be fed, a hollow table integral with the jet member and extending forward from said front wall below said outlets and provided interiorly with a pair of chambers adapted to be connected to a steam supply, the opposite ends of the table having laterally directed outlets from its chambers for steam jets, the table having a front wall connecting said opposite ends of the table in front of said laterally directed outlets, and a protective apron detachably connected to the table and having a wall extending downward and rearward ander it from a central portion engaging the front wall of the table, said apron having ledges at its ends projecting forward and laterally from below said table outlets.

3. A locomotive stoker distributor head adapted to extend through the firing opening of a rebox, comprising a hollow jet member adapted to be connected to a steam supply, said member having a front wall provided with outlets for steam jets and having an upper wall inclined downward Iand rearward from the top of the front wall to form a floor up which a stream of coal can be fed, a hollow table extending forward from said front wall below said outlets and provided interiorly with chambers adapted to be connected to a steam supply, the opposite ends of the table having laterally directed outlets for steam jets, the table having a front wall connecting said opposite ends of the table in front of said laterally directed outlets, and a protective apron detachably connected to the table and having a central portion extending across the front wall of the table with the tops of said portion and table in substantially the same plane, said apron having ledges at the opposite ends of said central portion projecting forward and laterally from below said table outlets, and said apron having a wall extending downward and rearward under the table from said central portion and from the front edges of said ledges. l

4. A locomotive stoker distributor head adapted to extend through the firing opening of a rebox, c//omprising a hollow jet member adapted to be connected to a steam supply, said member having a front wall provided with outlets for steam jets and having an upper wall inclined downward and rearward from the top of the front wall to form a oor up which a stream of coal can be fed, a hollow table extending forward from said front wall below said outlets and provided interiorly with chambers adapted to be connected to a steam supply, said chambers having a front wall forming the front wall of the table and connecting the opposite ends of the table, the opposite ends of the table having laterally directed outlets for steam jets with extensions projecting out over the table outlets, and a protective apron detachably connected to the table and having a wall extending downward and rearward under it from a central portion engaging the front wall of the table, said apron having ledges at its ends below said table outlets.

5. A locomotive stoker distributor head adapted to extend through the firing opening of a firebox, comprising a hollow jet member adapted to be connected to a steam supply, said member having a front wall provided with outlets for steam jets and having an upper wall inclined downward and rearward from the top of the front wall to form a iloor up which a stream of coal can be fed, a table extending forward from said front wall below said outlets and provided interiorly with chambers adapted to be connected to a steam supply, the opposite ends of the table having laterally directed outlets for steam jets, a wall connected to the bottom of the table and spaced therefrom to form an air chamber, the rear and front ends of the air chamber being provided with openings for passage of air forward through the chamber from outside the reboX, and a protective apron detachably connected to the table and having -a `wall extending downward in front of said aii` chamber and rearward beneath it from a central portion of the apron engaging the front of the table, said apron having ledges at its ends projecting forward and laterally from below said table outlets.

` 6. A locomotive stoker distributor head .adapted to extend through the iiring opening of a rebox, comprising a jet member adapted to be connected to a steam supply, said member having ya forwardly extending portion provided with a pair of laterally spaced recesses eachrhaving at one side a rearwardly and downwardly inclined bottom surface, and a front member provided with a pair of laterally spaced vertical ribs projecting into said recesses and having laterally projecting inclined lugs overlying said inclined bottom surfaces for detachably connecting said members together.

SAMUEL G. JONES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 786,793 Anthony Apr. 11, 1905 1,794,700 McCaskey Mar. 3, 1931 2,058,828 Roesch Oct. 27, 1936 2,075,158 Anderson Mar. 30, 1937 2,098,191 Martin Nov. 2, 1937 2,408,358 Yates Sept. 24, 1946 

